IN YOUR OWN WORDS - PART II

At the current time, we are not subject to the hardest part of the Coronavirus outbreak. (I have resisted calling it a "Pandemic", but have heard it is now official.) None of us has been forced to self-quarantine - at least none I've heard from. And thankfully, no one has had to be admitted to the hospital having contracted the virus. I know the news is overwhelmed with articles and TV spots that try to cover all that is happening. However, I've always felt that any hardship one is going through is made easier if we can talk about it and share our feelings with someone who cares.

(I just learned that my grandson Tanner has been exposed by someone who was exposed by a member or guest of the UT president's family, who has someone who tested positive. Tanner is self-quarantining until he gets an all-clear. His dad took groceries to him. They both have been attending UT.)

The coming days we - due to our age and regardless of our good health - may be isolated or even quarantined. The upside of this is there can be lots of positive things we can do while at home. All of you reading this have internet access. Hopefully, most of us have things like cable TV, cord-cutting services like ROKU, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Pandora music, and more things for the television viewers to binge on. Many of these can be watched on the internet on our computers as well. Of course, we are too old for video games (smile), but those who have iPhones can enjoy Words With Friends. Some may have Kindle or android devices to download and read books.. local libraries rent them for free. 

I have toyed with the idea of getting back to my artwork in the form of pastels. DOTTIE BISHOP may end up very wealthy with the extra time for adding to her paintings that she sells. I am still waiting for her to send some photos of her favorites. PATI COCKRELL is excited about her new quilting hobby, and JUNE CURRY crochets some of the most beautiful pieces I've ever seen.. and now she can do more to pass the time. 

This also might be the time to write that book you've been planning to write for years. JAMES HAYS will certainly have time to continue his writing about the Runnels County history. And of course, all of you who are Facebook fans can stay in touch with one another and share your frustrations.

From ROSALYN URBANTKE:

"Hello Marilyn, we here in San Antonio, Texas are doing OK. I personally am staying at home - I do not want to get that virus. I was too sick last year and knocked on the death door twice. So I am really being careful. I do have lots of toilet paper which is a big joke here. I would love to hear from some of the classmates on how they are all doing. Thank you for keeping up on all the news and sending it to all of us. I hope you are well."

ROSALYN, I am so glad you survived the terrible health issues you suffered last year. Means you are a really tough gal! 

"Responding on behalf of my mom, JERRYE JACKSON...she is a resident at Manor Park in Midland, Texas where the facilities are under quarantine. I usually see her every day so this is an adjustment for both of us. But we both understand the reason for it. She is being well taken care of. Midland schools have closed for two weeks and grocery store shelves are empty. No cases of the virus have been confirmed in our area and the craziness seems overkill to me. I blame the media for the panic and hope I don’t have to eat my words. Mom sends her thoughts and prayers for everyone’s safety."

JERRYE, yes, for those in care facilities or even those of us who live alone, it is really quite an adjustment. Thankfully, you have caregivers who are dedicated to seeing you are protected and well taken care of during this critical period. And thank you, Benita, for informing me of JERRYE's situation from time to time. Maybe she has a window in her room? You could visit her that way, and even take a little chalkboard to send her your love while there.

From JAMES HAYS (Brownwood, Texas):

"I have kept busy keeping up with Texas Dept. of Health, Texas Med Assn, etc. as I am the Brown County Health Authority. County health doc. That and a dollar will get me a cup of coffee. Mostly, I have had to deal with false rumors. Everybody should know what to do by now. The overall plan is to delay infection to buy time for development of a vaccine which is a time consuming thing. Ordinary coronavirus shares billing with adenoviruses as the cause of common colds, but this one has altered its DNA in China and is a real problem for old folks like us now, like it or not. Just follow the advice on hand washing, social distancing, etc.

"Tentatively, I am scheduled to give a paper/talk in Lubbock Friday, May 3rd for the West Texas Historical Society on mail delivery by stagecoach and other means. This may change on short notice due to the health situation. We had the Runnels County Historical Commission meeting today, and we are writing a book on various aspects of local history which should be out as early as mid-summer. I will have four chapters in it."

Yes, JAMES, it sounds like you have been busy. What have you and Kay been doing to prevent bringing the virus home? With the traveling you are doing, it seems you might be exposed at some point. You (like I and many others in our class) have had health problems that make us "vulnerable". Please take care.

CHARLES FIKES (Hearne, Texas): Haven't been affected. People have gone crazy buying all the toilet paper. I don't understand that. Schools are closing including A&M. Playing hell with our 401K. But God is in control so we don't have anything to worry about. Hope all is well with everyone else. Be safe." 

BOB BURTON (Flower Mound, Texas) and his wife Ann had to cancel their trip to Galveston this week for spring break with our daughter Carajean, some of the grandchildren, and other family members. They didn't decide to cancel until last night. I am pretty certain BOB is sorry he's not getting to go fishing. My son Matthew and his family were also planning to go. Yesterday he texted me, "I'm going to catch the biggest shark I've ever caught!" (He loves to scare me.) Last year he got stung by a jellyfish! Personally, I'm relieved that they aren't going. Other than the disappointment of not going fishing, I'm not sure what BOB and Ann are experiencing due to the outbreak.

This an extremely long post, but before I end it I will post something that just popped up in my inbox:

From DOTTIE BISHOP ROGERS (Pearce-Sunsites, Arizona):

"Hi, and how are you? I have missed your personal touch to all of us. I sincerely hope the present state of affairs has not put you in danger. As for me, all is okay. In this little village of oldsters, we are always prepared and have a good supply of everything since we have no grocery, gas or convenience store anymore. Most of us make periodic runs to Sam's or Costco. Many are being sensible and staying indoors. As for me...not so much. I am going on as usual and my calendar is full. I have paintings in two shows this month and another the first weekend of April. Our church is depending on God to help and we are proceeding as usual as well. In fact, I must hurry on or be late to our Women's Bible Study this morn. I send wishes and prayers to all our '57 survivors. You take care, sweet lady, and let those kids take care of you! Love to all."

Oh, if all of us had her spirit! You go, girl! 

One of us does. Not a girl, but BOB BURTON. On his recent 81st birthday he made the comment, "81 is not old anymore."

Over and out,

Marilyn

IN YOUR OWN WORDS

From PATI PRITCHARD, Red Oak, TX:

"Hello! Nothing different. Went to Big Bend last week and had fantastic time. Home now and amazed at the toilet paper craze. Don’t get that 'fea'. If you were exposed, diarrhea isn’t part of the process.  We already had hand soap in the house so really just sitting back and watching. Finally retired after 80th birthday and daughter and I are learning to quilt. I have enough projects to occupy me for a looong time. Hope all out there are doing well."

I know we all remember Johnny Carson. Do any of you remember this from his show in 1973? The Great Toilet Paper Scare of 1973

From JUNE CURRY, Edmond, OK: 

"We have bought a few extra supplies at the grocery store. At the requests of all four of my children I am now staying home for the near future. I repeatedly have said I am not afraid of my mortality from this virus, but neither do I want to kill someone else by getting and passing it on. So for now I am doing as they have asked and sheltering at home. Martha (daughter) with her severe asthma is doing the same. (Son) Chris is diabetic but practices constant washing of hands and disinfecting surfaces at his work. (Son) Scott is being proactive as well in his job and at home. I know that our future is totally in God’s hands, but we are expected to do what the authorities have asked of us in order to try slowing this monster down."

Just last week I got this good news from JUNE: "My implant is working so beautifully that I joined my church choir last week and was able to stand and sing with them last Sunday. This is so wonderful to be able to participate again. I have about three more weeks to completely heal from the surgery with the wires being cemented into place through scar tissue forming. But I am already getting such pain relief that it is actually a joy to get up in the morning. I thank God every day for this device and the relief from pain it brings."

As you may know, JUNE has suffered for years with back pain -- she has had several surgeries trying to alleviate it. She was prevented from attending our 50th Class Reunion due to a surgery. Our medical technology is wonderful and her recent surgery of a new type of implant was an answer to her prayers. I'm sure the current virus outbreak is even more of an imposition on her as she can now navigate with no pain. JUNE, hopefully the same technology will come up with something that will shorten our isolation!

From TRUMAN CONNER, San Antonio, TX: 

"I asked an HEB supervisor two days ago about the raid on toilet paper, and he had no idea. Told me warehouses were full so I googled it. Herd mentality in US deemed caused by shortage in Singapore, Hong Kong, and South Korea furthered by media frenzy. Just got home from HEB, and all the beef inventory was gone from refrigerated bins. Checker told me HEB closed a store today on the Southside because the store was being raided by customers. Ignorance and survivor mentality is in full bloom. Social media is proving to be the bane of the world. All of this is so unnecessary. Could cyber terrorism play a part? I mean, really, We have so many enemies in other parts of the world who would, maybe could, sow discord and chaos to the USA."

From NANCY BAKER, Ballinger, TX:
"Our grocery store was out of toilet paper this morning. I bought two packs yesterday. One guy was buying 5-packs of water."

From NEIL BROUSSARD, San Marcos, TX:

"Seemed to be shutting down most everything here in San Marcos and Wimberley. Went to H-E-B a couple days ago and didn’t see any shortages. Volunteer at library and Lions...both shut down until further notice. Neighbor is a teacher and she was told not to stay at home."

DENNY HILL, Port Jefferson, NY, planned to be in Warsaw for the summer, as he usually is. Today he wrote the following: 

"In Poland everything is closed except for food stores and pharmacies, e.g., restraurants, bars, clubs, cafes, etc. - areas all closed. This is for 10-days, but might be extended. The border has been closed since Friday (13th).

"The (COVID-19) outbreak is still small, but they are not stupid, and can calculate what is going to occur.

"My Polish friend Pawel says it is too late there; that they should have done it 3-weeks ago, then there might have been a chance."

We should have done it weeks ago, too, Denny! Sorry you have to sit at home like the rest of us.

Since my last post, I ordered groceries online for my son Craig to pick up Friday night. He stayed a good ten feet away from me after bringing the sacks in, and wouldn't stay more than a few minutes. I was surprised to see that HEB could only fill one-half of my order. They were out of stock on the rest.

Today, my daughter Carajean picked up some of those missing items at another store and brought them to place on my front porch. She had a can of Lysol and sprayed the packages, then spoke to me from the front yard. Oh yes, she brought me two rolls of toilet paper from her home.

Dear God -- is this what life will be like for weeks or months to come??

Peace (and don't touch your face!)
Marilyn

GOODBYE "MISTER T"

Sadly, I heard from NANCY THOMPSON BAKER this morning that her last living brother had passed away. If I remember correctly from our high school days, he was called Junior. I think the name his students gave him, "Mister T", shows not only was he thought of affectionately, but he was given the respect he was due. NANCY, please know we send our love and condolences to you and your family in this time of loss.

Claude Thompson, Jr.

Claude Thompson, Jr., also known as Mister T to many, passed away on March 1, 2020. Claude was born in Runnels County, Texas on October 19, 1925 to Claud Thompson and Verda Mae (Yancey) Thompson.

Claude grew up on the family ranch, where he, with his brother and sisters, helped the family deal with livestock, also running a farm on acreage nearby. Ranching at the convergence of the Concho and Colorado rivers afforded the sons a chance to fish, frequently “noodling” catfish in a favorite water hole.

Claude's mother was a school teacher, and educated the children, along with others from Ballinger, Bethel and Paint Rock Texas. At the age of 17, Claude hitchhiked to Texas A&M, where he enrolled in classes leading to an agriculture engineering degree.

As WWII raged, Claude took a deferral from his education and joined the US Army, serving with distinction in the European Theater as an infantryman. Claude earned 2 Bronze Stars during his military career. Following discharge, Claude returned to A&M, finishing his studies in 1946.

Immediately following his graduation, Claude went to work for the United States Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, where he was assigned to Rotan Texas in Fisher County. While working in Rotan, Claude met Frances Sargent, and they were married. There, they raised son, Glenn Sargent Thompson.

Eventually, Claude transferred to Haskell Texas, where another son, Gregory Layne Thompson, was born. The Thompson family lived in Haskell Texas until late 1966, when Claude transferred to Uvalde Texas. There, Claude and Frances remained until Frances' passing in 2013, at which point Claude moved to Pflugerville, Texas, where Claude lived with Greg and Linda Thompson. Claude spent the last years of his life under the care of Sodalis Assisted Living, Memory Care unit.

Following Claude's retirement in 1996, he went back to work with the Uvalde Independent School District as a substitute teacher. While at UHS, Claude was affectionately referred to by students and staff as “Mister T”.

Claude was preceded in death by his son Glenn, brother Robert, and wife Frances. He is survived by his sisters, Shirley Mohler and Nancy Baker and husband Jake, son Greg and wife Linda, grandchildren Taadamexa Thompson Smith and husband Travis, Tanya Lynn Thompson McGonagill and husband John (JP), Tulley Nolan Thompson and wife Jacqueline, Susan Bethany Thompson and husband Matt Brown, 8 great-grandchildren, and countless nieces and nephews.

Services will be conducted by Chaplain Mike McClung of Hope Hospice at 11:30 March 7, 2020 at Rushing Estes Knowles Mortuary in Uvalde. Interment will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Hope Hospice of New Braunfels 611 N. Walnut ave. New Braunfels, Tx. 78130, or at hopehospice.net/donations.

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Do any of you recognize these? One of them contains emergency food for one person for 30-days. I'm not sure what a bucket contains, but my younger son informed me I will be getting one delivered to me tomorrow. Why? At first I thought he was up to his old tricks. He's known in the family as a big practical joker. This time, he isn't joking. He has ordered enough of them for his family of four as well. The threat of a Coronavirus pandemic - and the fact that there is already a victim in San Antonio (75-miles from Austin) and a person being monitored here in Travis County leads one to believe it is here. 

Not only am I now 80 years old, but I have COPD and use oxygen. A friend sent me this recently: "A rather sad realization is that it is inevitable that I will eventually get this virus, as most people will, and then it has a good chance to kill me. (Being 80.) It p***** me off; I did not want to die that way." Nor do I, my friend!

Our classmate JUNE HASH CURRY told me that she is not worried about all the negative news about the virus as she is very strong in her belief that God is watching over her and her loved ones, and that she will only leave this earth when it is her time to go. 

Whatever your belief, please take any precautions necessary to prevent becoming a victim to this latest scourge on the planet. Things are bad enough in our government and all of the negative politics we are witnessing. Watch upbeat movies on TV, listen to your favorite music, and read The Good News Network to remind yourself that "this too, shall pass away."

Let me know how you are coping with the thought of the Coronavirus spreading as well as the dispressing political scene we have been witnessing. Share the "good stuff" happening in your life!

Peace and love,
Marilyn

P.S.
As I was writing this, my electricity went off twice today, knocking out my internet service as well. It took Spectrum four hours to get it up and running again. During that time I missed some important news. Son Craig texted me that the powers that be in Austin have canceled SXSW (South by Southwest - https://www.sxsw.com/) due to the spread of the Coronavirus. This is an annual event that brings hundreds of thousands of people from many parts of the world to Austin. Sadly, this will cause a huge revenue loss to many, but the danger inherent in the crowds that this festival and conference bring to our city is much too risky. I'm certain there are many such events (even Olympics in Japan) that will be affected before this year is over.